2016 BWOC Report

The British Winter Open Championship (BWOC) is a great opening event to the forthcoming yearlong season. A good measure one could say to how the new rides and the teams are doing. By the time February comes round many of the drivers have competed on all sorts of indoor events on all sorts of tracks and are ready for this event. Well everyone was ready apart from the overwhelming record breaking entries that flew in when the on-line booking in system opened up just before the Christmas period. An unprecedented 249 individual entries were received within hours. It’s become clear that with this sort of interest in the BWOC event, the BRCA committee will have to lay down some rules in who gains an entry. A learning curve for many of us for sure but what a great problem to have.

The Club

The Silverstone crew held this event with good success 2 years ago. The club ideally situated geographically and with a good membership base was always going to have a head start towards a successful event. Running on the Blue Astroturf that I suppose only Silverstone has made famous, the Nationals tyre choices were selected. We turned up Friday evening to find some 30 people building the track. Matt Owen had already designed the layout and after speaking to him, he made it clear to me that he wanted a race track for good fast racing rather than an obstacle track. Certainly was looking really good.

2wd Event – Saturday

Drivers Briefing

Paul Worsley the chairman of the 10th off-road section introduced himself and the rules of this standalone event. As usual (he has been doing it a long time) everything explained in clear detail and he wished everyone good luck. Keith Wardle, BRCA 10th secretary was present, as was John Cockill our National head referee and new to the Team, Gareth Bevens the head Time keeper and general Race Control guru!

Practice

2 practice sessions the same as Nationals – nothing to report here really!

Qualifying rounds

The weather was never going to be a factor in indoor racing and thank goodness for that as outside was just horrible. The usual suspects were certainly at it again as soon as qualification was under way. Lee Martin set the pace in round 1 with Neil Cragg just a couple of seconds behind. Neil Cragg took the 2nd round on a faster time than Lee so it looked like everything to play for even after only 2 rounds. Nathan Waters and Tom Yardy were both looking quick too. Greg Williams had 2 solid top 10 finishes as well. Matthew Owen the chairman of Silverstone, a very good racer himself, was holding his own as they say with 2 solid top 15 scores. Round 3 was on us very quickly and the meeting running along spot on. Lee Martin decided to knock off another 4 seconds off the TQ best time and certainly threw down the gauntlet for Neil Cragg and everyone else to chase. In round 3, Neil could only take 2nd so Lee looked the favourite for the pole position with one to go. Nathan Waters and Tom Yardy took the 3rd and 4th spots. Tom Cockerill taking 5th. The fourth round was now upon us and the main A Final was taking shape nicely. Neil and Lee were split in the top 2 heats. Neil would go first and did he go! A great run from the Associated man that set a new fastest time of 14/02.24. Looked unbeatable. Lee was off next and was on and off beating Neil’s time throughout his last qualification run. He looked super quick too and he knew he had to beat Neil’s time for the overall TQ and Pole position. Lee Romang the commentator for the event, had everyone hanging with anticipation of who took the TQ. It turns out Neil and Lee set an identical fastest time of 14 laps in 304/02.24, so both drivers had zero score for the Round. Incredible stuff with Lee having 3 round TQ’s and Neil having 2 round TQs and now with identical times in one round. You just couldn’t write the script if you tried! Well of course it has to go down to the next best time of the zero score. Lee Martin would take the TQ as his next ‘zero’ was a faster time. Boy oh boy how close can it get

A Final 2wd Line-Up

2WD Finals

Leg 1 A Main

We were off and Lee started quick and tried to break the pack. Neil went with him and we had a true close race on our hands. These two have been at it for years but in this race Neil Cragg would pull out a move that we all hope someone has on video (please send to me [email protected]). Neil lined up Lee at the end of the fast sweeper at the end of the straight and threw his car up the inside to such perfection. If he braked too soon or too late they would have collided for sure but he didn’t. They braked wheel to wheel and if they touched it was ever so slight. Neil made the perfect block pass on Lee of all people and took the lead. He didn’t give it up and took leg 1. Tom Yardy came in 3rd, Tom Cockerill 4th, Nathan Waters 5th, Ellis Stafford 6th, Greg Williams 7th, Iain Mellish 8th, Chris Doughty 9th and Kev Lee 10th. An amazing race by some of the world’s best!

M Final was won by Paul GilhamL Final was won by David Clift K Final was won by Chris Norris J Final was won by Jonathan May

Leg 2 A Main

Well the 2nd leg would start and no one in the hall could even dream of a similar race to the 1st leg because it was just amazing. Lee the pole man set off fast again and Neil in hot pursuit. Of course Neil showed and executed his Ace Card to perfection in leg 1 so Lee was very much aware of Neil throwing it up the inside again. Nose to tail is the saying and that is how they were circulating. Nothing between these 2 super drivers. Nathan Waters was not too far away so if these 2 got together for whatever reason he would certainly be in the picture. What happened next was nothing short of extra ordinary. Neil put pressure on Lee in the same spot and was trying for a couple of laps to do the same move. Lee was aware of it and was defending that inside line. Out of the blue, Neil comes round the fast sweeper and sort of shows he is going for the same move, Lee defends but Neil decided to overtake Lee round the outside, the long way round and somehow managed to make it stick. The racers watching and the crowd simply called out the ‘wow’ word and no one could really believe the incredible move Neil created and executed on one of his biggest rivals. The Associated man came home to take leg 2 and the win of the meeting and become the 2016 British Winter Open Champion. Now as much as it all sounds incredible and it was, credit has to also go to Lee Martin that was the first to congratulate Neil not only on his win but on some amazing driving. Nathan was 3rd, Tom Yardy 4th, Iain 5th, Ellis 6th, Greg 7th, Kevin 8th, Chris and Tom Cockerill 9th and 10th.

I Final was won by Daniel Harper-Brown H Final was won by Phil Williams G Final was won by Jamie Banks F Final was won by Dylan McBurney E Final was won by Brett Birch D Final was won by Paul Field C Final was won by Mark Fletcher B Final was won by Eugene Galley

Leg 3 A main

Last leg and I think the crowd was exhausted from the excitements. It was no different in leg 3. This time though, Lee had seen it all before and learned very quickly. Lee drove the perfect race from tone to tone with Neil just 0.25 sec behind him. Tom Yardy found some extra speed for leg 3 and was only 2.13 secs off the 2 superstars. Tom Cockerill 4th, Ellis 5th, Nathan 6th, Chris 7th, Kevin 8th, Iain 9th and Greg 10th.

Full overall results below

Your Winners.

Tom Yardy 3rd – Neil Cragg 1st – Lee Martin 2nd

4wd Event – Sunday

The track

The 4wd track layout was totally the same and it worked really well.

Drivers briefing

Paul did the drivers briefing – No major differences.

Practice

Same as 2wd. 2 practice runs and we were off into round 1

Qualifications

Here we go again. Could anyone touch the untouchables of Neil and Lee. From word go one could see that Lee was on a mission. If Lee had some nightmares overnight referencing to the 2 moves Neil put on him the day before, he was certainly coming out fighting this morning. He smashed in an incredible first run to take round 1 TQ by 6 secs. Neil 2nd and Ellis Stafford in 3rd with his TLR car. Cockers does what he does best and takes 4th in round. Chris Doughty looked good with his Durango to take 5th in round 1. Moving to round 2, Lee Martin again with another fat ‘zero’ score with Neil 2nd again. Nathan Waters 3rd, Cockers another 4th in round and Greg Williams again turning out well in qualification with a 5th in the round. Round 3 came really quickly and it was turning out to be the Lee Martin show as Lee took another fat ‘zero’ to secure TQ already. Ellis Stafford took a nice 2nd, Nathan another 3rd, and yes you guessed it, another 4th for Cockers with Chris Doughty 5th. Last round and another exhibition run for Lee Martin to score ‘zero’ points in qualification and set the fastest time of the day too. Neil another 2nd, Nathan another 3rd, Danny McGee was to take 4th and Greg another 5th.

4WD Finals.

Leg 1 A Main

We were all lined up and ready. Lee Martin carried on his exhibition driving to take leg one and the only car capable in doing mid 20 sec laps. Everyone else in the 21 sec lap times. Neil came in 2nd, Nathan 3rd, Tom Cockerill 4th , Jack Neil 5th, Chris in 6th, Ellis 7th, Greg 8th and Danny and Tom Yardy 9th and 10th.

L Final was won by Adam Drane K Final was won by James Wright J Final was won by James Wingfield I Final was won by Ross Nicholson

Leg 2 A Main

Another amazing run by Lee Martin to take the win of the leg, the win of the meeting and consequently become the 2016 British Winter 4wd Open Champion. Another 2nd for Neil only secured him a podium at this stage. Nathan Waters in 3rd, Cockers again 4th, Jack in 5th, Chris 6th, Ellis 7th, Greg 8th, Danny 9th and Tom Yardy 10th.

H Final was won by Phil Sleigh G Final was won by John Painter E Final was won by Roger Mills D Final was won by Jamie Hall C Final was won by Craig MaherB Final was won by Craig Collinson

Leg 3 A Main

Lee Martin was out to win every race of the day. All qualifications and all legs. He did just that and posted the fastest lap of the day too. Nathan Waters needed a win to knock off Neil Cragg from 2nd spot. It didn’t happen with him finishing 6th. Tom Cockerill needed a 2nd to knock off Nathan from the podium and Tom that made the Worlds A Final at the Yatabe arena recently, did just that. Tom came in 2nd. Danny McGee 3rd, Neil in 4th, Chris up to 5th, Nathan like stated 6th, Jack 7th, Greg 8th and Tom Yardy 9th and Ellis 10th

Full results below

Your Winners:

Tom Cockerill 3rd – Lee Martin 1st – Neil Cragg 2nd

Conclusions

The Silverstone Buggy Club, their members, their crew and their organisation was simply superb. Matt Owen designed a track that certainly was there to be raced and good enough to qualify on without incidents. Well done to you all and we thank you for a good event.The BRCA saw a new timer keeper in the name of Gareth Bevens. Gareth headed the Euros Time Keeping crew at RHR in the summer and that event run like clockwork as did this weekend. Introduce yourselves to him when you get the opportunity. Welcome on board GB

Some racers travelled from abroad and far to come racing at the BWOC. Ireland and Scotland amongst them But the longest distance was made by my close friend, Tom How. For those of you that don’t know Tom, he is the designer and webmaster of our 10th section website.

Don’t forget everyone that the 2016 National Events and booking in forms are now available so get yourselves booked in for some more exciting and close racing throughout the UK

What is BRCA?

Essentially we race radio-controlled model racing cars, trucks and bikes, however this isn’t as simple a statement as it might seem! There are over 13 different classes ranging from small electric powered ones that do about 30mph through to cars powered by 3.5cc internal combustion engines that do over 80mph and even those with 23cc petrol engines. The racing caters for people from all backgrounds and doesn’t discriminate on sex, age, or disability. Radio-controlled model motor racing does provide a challenging sporting environment where the skill required to drive and build the cars can be tested against other likeminded competitors.

Download our 2016 Handbook or Have a Go racing Booklet to find out more

Social

What do we do? What is BRCA? Who are we?
Essentially we race radio-controlled model racing cars, trucks and bikes, however this isn’t as simple a statement as it might seem! There are over 13 different classes ranging from small electric powered ones that do about 30mph through to cars powered by 3.5cc internal combustion engines that do over 80mph and even those with 23cc petrol engines. The racing caters for people from all backgrounds and doesn’t discriminate on sex, age, or disability. Radio-controlled model motor racing does provide a challenging sporting environment where the skill required to drive and build the cars can be tested against other likeminded competitors.

Download our 2016 Handbook or Have a Go racing Booklet to find out more

The four objects that define The British Radio Car Association.
(a) To promote the construction and racing of radio-controlled cars.
(b) To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas relating to the sport.
(c) To set rules and standards for construction and racing.
(d) To encourage National and International competition within a co-ordinated calendar.